Rating: PG-13
Movie Release Date: December 14, 2004
DVD Release Date: July 12, 2005
Plot 411: Against his better judgment, a once-great trainer takes an older female boxer under his wing.
Review: Clint Eastwood stars as Frankie, an aging boxing trainer and gym owner. When Maggie (Hilary Swank) shows up at his gym and asks him to train her, he refuses. She returns every day, proves that she is serious about the training and at last Frank relents. Through their training Maggie is able to learn the skills needed to be a great boxer. As she slowly gains notoriety, she attempts to help her financially struggling family, except they do not appreciate her assistance. Frankie also has a rough relationship with his daughter, and even though he writes to her every week, many of the letters come back unopened. Together Maggie and Frankie find in each other what is truly lacking in their lives and become very close. When tragedy strikes, one asks the other to do something unthinkable. Will their relationships be able to survive the stress? The story is narrated by Frankie's former student Eddie, played by Morgan Freeman. This is a heavy, heavy movie to watch and definitely not for the faint of heart. It confronts many things that are normally taboo in Hollywood flicks. But, I suppose it's Eastwood so he can do whatever he wants. The movie tugs at your heartstrings as well as your moral center. It simply asks you how far you'd go for someone you love. Sometimes the answer will surprise you.
Watch It: For an emotional rollercoaster of a film with powerful performances by Eastwood and Swank.
Skip It: If you're not in the mindset for some inner turmoil.
Movie Release Date: December 14, 2004
DVD Release Date: July 12, 2005
Plot 411: Against his better judgment, a once-great trainer takes an older female boxer under his wing.
Review: Clint Eastwood stars as Frankie, an aging boxing trainer and gym owner. When Maggie (Hilary Swank) shows up at his gym and asks him to train her, he refuses. She returns every day, proves that she is serious about the training and at last Frank relents. Through their training Maggie is able to learn the skills needed to be a great boxer. As she slowly gains notoriety, she attempts to help her financially struggling family, except they do not appreciate her assistance. Frankie also has a rough relationship with his daughter, and even though he writes to her every week, many of the letters come back unopened. Together Maggie and Frankie find in each other what is truly lacking in their lives and become very close. When tragedy strikes, one asks the other to do something unthinkable. Will their relationships be able to survive the stress? The story is narrated by Frankie's former student Eddie, played by Morgan Freeman. This is a heavy, heavy movie to watch and definitely not for the faint of heart. It confronts many things that are normally taboo in Hollywood flicks. But, I suppose it's Eastwood so he can do whatever he wants. The movie tugs at your heartstrings as well as your moral center. It simply asks you how far you'd go for someone you love. Sometimes the answer will surprise you.
Watch It: For an emotional rollercoaster of a film with powerful performances by Eastwood and Swank.
Skip It: If you're not in the mindset for some inner turmoil.
